15:14Samuelreplied, “If that is the case,5 then whatis thissoundof sheepin my earsand the soundof cattlethatIhear?”15:15Saulsaid, “They were brought6from the Amalekites; the armysparedthe bestof the flocksand cattleto sacrificeto the Lordour God. But everything else we slaughtered.”

15:16Then SamuelsaidtoSaul, “Wait a minute!7 Let me tellyou whatthe Lordsaidtome last night.” Saul8 saidto him, “Tellme.”15:17Samuelsaid, “Is it nottrue that when you were insignificantin yourown eyes, you became headof the tribesof Israel? The Lordchose9youas kingoverIsrael.15:18The Lordsentyou on a campaign10saying, ‘Goand exterminatethose sinfulAmalekites! Fightagainst them untilyou11 have destroyedthem.’15:19Whyhaven’tyou obeyed12the Lord? Instead you have greedilyrushed upon the plunder! You have donewhat is wrongin the Lord’sestimation.”13

15:20Then Saulsaid toSamuel, “But I haveobeyed14the Lord! I wentonthe campaign15the Lordsentme on. I broughtback KingAgagof theAmalekitesafter exterminatingthe Amalekites.15:21Butthe armytookfrom the plundersome of the sheepand cattle– the bestof what was to be slaughtered– to sacrificeto the Lordyour Godin Gilgal.”

15:24Then Saulsaid toSamuel, “I have sinned, forI havedisobeyedwhat the Lordcommanded21and whatyou said as well.22 ForI was afraidof thearmy, and I followed their wishes.2315:25Nowpleaseforgivemy sin! Go backwithme so I can worship24the Lord.”

15:26SamuelsaidtoSaul, “I will notgo backwithyou, foryou have rejectedthewordof the Lord, and the Lordhas rejectedyou from being kingoverIsrael!”